AUGUST 28 to 31, 2013; my last days of work

I went to Salmon Arm on Wednesday to pick up our mail and get some groceries.  I had lunch then came home and cooked my dinner, steak and eggs then had a fire outside.  George and Paulette stopped for a chat and I finally went to bed at 10 PM.

On Thursday, I went to work early (8 AM) as I had switch with a co-worker.  It felt curious coming home at 3:30 rather than 5:30 PM!  I called Val in Toronto and surprise, she was in the room so didn’t have to chase her down.  It rained most of today but finally quit in the early evening.

Friday was back to my normal shift of 10 AM to 5:30 PM.  After work I went to the pub for dinner; fish & chips then came home.  I stopped at our neighbours, Ron and Sheila and had a drink with them along with Alex, Dan & Heather.  I came home to my buddy, Tucker, who was very happy to see me.  I had a fire in the evening and texted Rochelle and Jeffrey.

Saturday, the last day of the month and the day before my last day at work!  I said my goodbyes to all those I won’t see over the week-end and came home to a Chili cook-out put on by the Social Committee.  There were 6 people with their chili and we had to vote which one we liked best.  I even got some for my lunch tomorrow!  I came home and Tucker and I had a quiet evening.  I talked to Val and I am looking forward seeing her tomorrow

That’s it for this month!

August 22 to 27, 2013; Last days of work for Val & more routine stuff

AUG  22 to 27; Last days of work for Val

Thursday was back to work for both of us, lucky Val only got 5 days left!!  It was warm today, in the upper 20’s C.  The wasps seem to be slowing down, getting dozy due to cold nights, I think.

It was cloudy on Friday and even had some drizzle, albeit very light and much cooler; work is getting boring and a chore but still plugging at it.  I got our medical insurance documents today via e-mail.  Paper documents to follow!

Saturday was cloudy with a few drizzle.  The campers are getting restless and are eager to lift the ban on fires but it won’t happen soon unfortunately.  At home, I BBQ’ed hamburgers and boiled corn on the cob for dinner; it was a pleasant evening so we sat out for quite a while before hitting the sack.

Monday, what a change!  Rain all night and into the early afternoon; it made for a wet day to work!  Well, Val is off to Toronto.  We took the back road via Turtle Valley into Falklands, Vernon and finally the airport in Kelowna.  We stopped at a local pub in Winfield for a bite to eat.  Val checked in with no problem and went into the restricted area so I came home; it took me 2 hours coming back via Salmon Arm which was shorter in distance then the back road we took going out.  Now I have to fend for myself for 5 days....Poor me!!!

Tuesday was wash day; the jeep (it was filthy from the gravel road yesterday) and clothes.  Cloudy, rainy period and just plain miserable!  Val called to say she arrived in time, tired but feeling great being with her sisters and sister-in-law.

August 15 to 21, 2013; Work continues

AUG  15 to 21; Gateway and more work

Back to the grind; only 3 weeks to go (including this week) for me, 2 for Val!  It was sunny and very warm most of the day but rained late in the afternoon for a good couple hours.  It was muggy and warm which made things worse.

Back to sunshine this morning, Friday!  I came home to find Val with neighbours Carlo and Sandra having HH so I joined them of course.  We had the rest of the moose meat for dinner tonight.  The days are getting shorter and the temperature has finally fallen to a comfortable mid 70’s in the day and low 70’s in the evening.  It’s also been partially cloudy every day.

We didn’t go to the Pub on Sunday for their famous roast beef dinner, rather Val made her famous “Hurricane Plate” consisting of rice, vegetables and chicken all mix together in a chicken broth and oven cooked.  It was really good!

Monday, last day of work, thank goodness!  Came home, BBQ’ed Haddock fish then watched the tube.  Off for two days!

Tuesday, I went to Chase to bottle our wine while Val did the laundry.  When I got back, I had to go to Scotch Creek to get propane as the dryer ran out (it runs of propane); I filled the Jeep while there.  Val had a haircut by Heather and I filled out our forms for health insurance while in the USA and Mexico this coming fall/winter.

Wednesday, we went to Salmon Arm for our usual mail pick-up and grocery top-up.  I also had an appointment at the hospital for an “ultra sound” (nothing serious).  We came home, put everything away and had HH with Bob and Gail.  First it was at our place then the wasps got so bad that we moved to Bob’s place in his gazebo which is sealed in screen so we thought; they managed to find holes and come in to harass us.  Donna and Marcel also were in attendance.  I cooked steaks for dinner with corn on the cob and a Caesar salad made by Val

August 8 to 14, 2013; Therese and Michel's visit at Gateway

AUG  8 to 14, Gateway and visit from sister Therese & Michel

Oooooooh, another week of HOT weather!!!!  34*C this Thursday and to top it all, I had a lousy sleep last night and felt it today at work!!!

Friday was payday, here now, gone a minute later paying bills!!!  Picked up some beer and wine for our guests arriving tomorrow.

Saturday, we went to work but I quit early and got home to find sister Therese & Michel, son Jeff already all set up and drinking beer with Val (Debbie had to work so couldn’t come).  We had BBQ Steak, corn on the cob from Chilliwack then sat around and caught up to news.  Ed and Jack came over to discuss the trip to the Baja and borrowed our book.  Jack and Mim came over to meet Therese and Michel before they left.  Val went to bed early and I did around 11 pm.

Sunday was work again for both of us but I once again got off earlier.  Jeffrey had T&M at the beach and by the time I showered, they were home.  We sat around and enjoyed the heat of the day then BBQ’ed hamburgers for dinner

Monday, Jeffrey left early this morning to go back home and work.  While Val was at work (I took the day off), I showed them our Park (Gateway) then we went to Quaaout Lodge; they were quite impress.  We walked the beach then drove to the Provincial Park, chatted with Val and her partner for a bit then I showed them around.  We even walked around at the beach.  We stopped for lunch at the Park Store then came home.  As we were driving home, the sky began to cloud over and by the time we had Happy Hour with Bob and Gail, the sky opened up and a deluge came down.  It lasted about an hour then cleared up but it sure cooled off the temperature, so much so that we had to put jackets on in the evening, a first in almost two months!!!  For dinner we had pasta with shrimps, delicious.

We went to Salmon Arm on Tuesday for our usual mail pick up and grocery shopping; I also had a doctor appointment to attend.  We went to see the Margaret Falls but the trail was closed due to a tree falling during the storm last night and it destroyed one of the bridges on the trail; so we went to the waterfront walk-board in Salmon Arm instead then to the local pub in the hotel where we had delicious ribs just like those in Logan Lake.  We came home after picking up groceries and more beer and had dinner (tacos with moose meat, delicious) then we sat outside for our last evening together.  Dennis and Ruth came over for a while.

Wednesday, we drove Therese and Michel back to Hope via a short visit through Logan Lake and a look at the mine.  We headed south on 97A to Merritt where we stopped for a coffee at TIM HORTON and a small bit to eat.  We arrived in Hope around 4:30 PM, had a beer with Johnny and Irais then we said our goodbyes to Therese and Michel and everyone else and headed home.  We left at 6:15 PM and arrived home at 9 PM after a stop in Kamloops for gas @ $1.24 and a hamburger in Chase.  Val made her lunch then we relax for a bit before going to bed and be ready for another week of work.  It’s been great having Therese and Michel with us here at Gateway and I think they had a good time while here.

August 1 to 7, 2013; Gateway, Lee Creek, BC

AUGUST  1 to 7 2013; Gateway, Lee Creek

Back to the grind this Thursday morning under sunny sky and warm weather which has now beaten many records in the Province.  We also have a fire ban starting today! 

August Stat Week-end (BC Day) was hot and the Park was very busy and so was Gateway.  As a matter of fact, we have never seen it this busy here in Gateway which is great in a way!  There was a hamburger and hot dog cook-out Sunday evening so after work, we stopped in for a couple burgers then came home for an early bed.

Tuesday, days off!  I called Rochelle yesterday to find out how they and the kids are doing.  Val went to Tai-Chi in Chase then we went to Salmon Arm for our usual shopping and mail pick-up.  It took us over an hour to do 10 KM just before Salmon Arm because of constructions; we travelled the distance between 5 to 40 Km/Hr.  We finally made it, did our thing and then came back home which was much faster but still heavy with traffic.  HH was at Ed & Judy with Bob & Gail and Allan and Dana joining us.  We bought a cooked whole chicken at SAVE-ON-FOOD so we had that with small potatoes and St-Hubert BBQ.

 

Wednesday, I went back to S.A. for Tucker’s haircut; we couldn’t get an appointment in Chase until September which was too long.  I also got a haircut then we came home.  Spent the rest of the afternoon working around the yard then at 5 PM we went to Bruce and Joyce to join Marcel, Bob and Gail for Happy Hour.  For dinner, we had BBQ pork chops with a nice salad then watched the tube and to bed...Tomorrow is back to the grind one more week